Body Shape Calculator
Discover Your Body Type & Get Personalized Health Insights
Understanding Body Shapes
Your body shape is determined by the proportions of your bust, waist, and hips. Knowing your body shape can help you make better clothing choices and understand potential health considerations related to where your body tends to store fat.
All calculations happen in your browser. Your measurements are never stored or transmitted.
Enter Your Measurements
For accurate results, measure yourself or have someone help you. Use a flexible measuring tape and stand naturally.
Understanding Body Types
The Five Main Body Shapes
Hourglass
Characteristics: Bust and hips are similar in size with a well-defined, narrower waist. Often considered the "classic" balanced figure.
Proportions: Waist is noticeably smaller than both bust and hips. Bust and hips within 5% of each other.
Common traits: Weight tends to distribute evenly between upper and lower body.
Pear (Triangle)
Characteristics: Hips are wider than bust with a defined waist. Lower body is proportionally larger than upper body.
Proportions: Hips are at least 5% larger than bust. Waist is defined but may not be as dramatically smaller as hourglass.
Common traits: Tends to carry weight in hips, thighs, and buttocks. Narrower shoulders relative to hips.
Apple (Oval)
Characteristics: Fuller midsection with bust larger than or similar to hips. Waist is not well-defined and may be similar to or larger than bust/hips.
Proportions: Waist measurement is close to or larger than bust/hip measurements.
Common traits: Tends to carry weight around the middle. May have slimmer legs and hips relative to upper body.
Rectangle (Athletic/Straight)
Characteristics: Bust, waist, and hips are fairly similar in measurement. Waist is not dramatically smaller than bust or hips.
Proportions: All three measurements within about 5% of each other, creating a straight silhouette.
Common traits: Often athletic build. Weight distribution tends to be even, or weight may accumulate in the midsection.
Inverted Triangle
Characteristics: Shoulders and bust are wider than hips. Often has a more athletic or broad-shouldered appearance.
Proportions: Bust/shoulders at least 5% larger than hips. May have a defined waist or straighter torso.
Common traits: Tends to carry weight in upper body, arms, and back. Narrower hips relative to shoulders.
Body Shape & Health
Your body shape relates to where your body tends to store fat, which has health implications. The most important health measure is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR).
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
WHR is calculated by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement. It's an important indicator of health risk because it shows where you carry body fat.
WHR Health Risk Categories
| Health Risk | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Low Risk | 0.80 or below | 0.95 or below |
| Moderate Risk | 0.81 - 0.85 | 0.96 - 1.0 |
| High Risk | Above 0.85 | Above 1.0 |
Why Does Fat Distribution Matter?
Visceral fat (fat stored around organs in the midsection) is metabolically active and linked to greater health risks than subcutaneous fat (fat stored under the skin in hips and thighs).
- Apple shapes (higher WHR) tend to store more visceral fat, associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome
- Pear shapes (lower WHR) tend to store more subcutaneous fat in lower body, which is generally associated with lower metabolic health risks
What Can You Do?
Regardless of your natural body shape, you can improve health markers through lifestyle factors:
- Regular exercise - Both cardio and strength training help reduce visceral fat
- Balanced nutrition - Focus on whole foods, adequate protein, and appropriate calories
- Adequate sleep - Poor sleep is linked to increased abdominal fat storage
- Stress management - Chronic stress and cortisol promote visceral fat storage
- Limit alcohol - Excess alcohol contributes to abdominal fat
The Science of Body Shape
Genetics and Body Shape
Your natural body shape is largely determined by genetics, including:
- Bone structure: Width of shoulders, ribcage, pelvis
- Hormones: Estrogen promotes fat storage in hips/thighs; testosterone promotes upper body development
- Fat distribution patterns: Genetically influenced receptor patterns determine where fat is stored and mobilized
How Body Shape Is Calculated
Body shape classification uses ratios between bust, waist, and hip measurements. The key ratios are:
- Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR): Waist ÷ Hips
- Bust-to-Hip Ratio: Bust ÷ Hips
- Waist-to-Bust Ratio: Waist ÷ Bust
Different classification systems use slightly different criteria, but generally:
- Hourglass: Bust and hips within 5%, waist at least 25% smaller
- Pear: Hips > 5% larger than bust
- Apple: Waist ≥ bust, or waist-to-hip ratio > 0.8
- Rectangle: Waist within 25% of bust and hips
- Inverted Triangle: Bust > 5% larger than hips
Can You Change Your Body Shape?
Your underlying skeletal structure can't be changed, but body composition can shift with:
- Fat loss/gain: Changes how proportions appear, though you'll tend to lose/gain in your genetic pattern
- Muscle building: Targeted training can add size to specific areas (e.g., building glutes, broadening shoulders)
- Posture: Good posture can improve how proportions appear
While you can influence your appearance, working with your natural shape rather than against it is usually more effective and sustainable.
Limitations of Body Shape Classification
- Body shapes exist on a spectrum; most people are combinations
- Measurements can vary based on how they're taken
- Body shape doesn't determine health, fitness, or attractiveness
- Fashion and cultural preferences for body shapes have varied throughout history
Frequently Asked Questions
Body shape is one indicator related to health, but it doesn't determine your health. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) can indicate where you carry fat, which has some health implications. However, overall health depends on many factors: diet, exercise, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, sleep, stress, genetics, and more. A person with an "apple" shape can be metabolically healthy, and a person with a "pear" shape can have health issues. Focus on healthy behaviors rather than body shape.
Your underlying bone structure (shoulder width, hip width, ribcage) is genetic and can't be changed. However, you can influence your appearance through body composition changes. Losing fat or building muscle in specific areas can alter how your proportions look. For example, building glute muscles can make a rectangle shape appear more hourglass-like. But fundamentally, working with your natural shape is usually more effective than trying to completely change it.
Most people don't fit perfectly into one category—body shapes exist on a spectrum. You might be a "soft rectangle" (rectangle with slightly more waist definition) or a "pear with hourglass tendencies." The categories are simplified classifications that capture general patterns, not rigid boxes. Use your results as a general guide while recognizing your body is unique.
Body shape calculators provide a reasonable classification based on the measurements you input. Accuracy depends on: (1) How accurately you take measurements—even small differences can affect results; (2) Which algorithm is used—different systems classify shapes slightly differently; (3) The inherent limitations of putting continuous measurements into discrete categories. The calculator gives a useful general classification, but don't take the exact category too literally.
No body shape is inherently better than others. Preferences for different body shapes have varied dramatically across cultures and throughout history. From a health perspective, some shapes correlate with different risk profiles, but correlation isn't destiny—healthy people come in all shapes. Focus on healthy behaviors and body functionality rather than achieving a particular shape.
Sex hormones drive different fat distribution patterns. Estrogen promotes fat storage in hips, thighs, and buttocks, which is why women tend toward pear or hourglass shapes. Testosterone promotes upper body development and less lower body fat storage, which is why men tend toward more rectangular or inverted triangle shapes with narrower hips. These are tendencies, not absolutes—individual variation is significant, and shapes change with age and hormonal changes.
Sources & References
- World Health Organization. (2008). Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: Report of a WHO expert consultation. Geneva: WHO.
- Lear, S. A., et al. (2010). Visceral adipose tissue accumulation differs according to ethnic background: Results of the Multicultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(1), 106-114. PubMed
- Yusuf, S., et al. (2005). Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: A case-control study. The Lancet, 366(9497), 1640-1649. PubMed
- Snijder, M. B., et al. (2003). Associations of hip and thigh circumferences independent of waist circumference with the incidence of type 2 diabetes: The Hoorn Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77(5), 1192-1197. PubMed
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides an estimate of body shape based on self-reported measurements. Results depend on measurement accuracy and the specific algorithm used.
Body shape classification is a simplified tool—real bodies exist on a spectrum and don't always fit neatly into categories. Your body shape does not determine your health, worth, or attractiveness.
For health concerns related to body composition or weight distribution, please consult with a healthcare provider who can assess your individual situation.